Envelope attaching machine



Aug. 17, 1965 A. H. WELCH 3,200,719

ENVELOPE ATTACHING MACHINE Filed April 8, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 kg @7' 65 e9 JNVENTOR. ARCH/EAL 0 H. WELCH FIG.

Q W571) NEYS Aug. 17, 1965 A. H. WELCH ENVELOPE ATTACHING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 8, 1963 INVENTUR. ARCH/BALD H. WELCH BY M W 3 g ATTO NEYS H mm unlaiiuQ 6 ll rl 9 llllll S Aug. 17, 1965 A. H. WELCH 3,200,719

ENVELOPE ATTACHING MACHINE Filed April 8, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 4

INVENTOR. ARCH/BALD H. WELCH BY w Wa AT'T'O NEYS Aug. 17, 1965 H. WELCH ENVELOPE ATTACHING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 8, 1965 INVENTOR.

ARCH/BALD H WEL CH W ATTORN 5 Aug. 17, 1965 A. H. WELCH ENVELOPE ATTACHING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 8, 1963 JNVENTOR. ARCH/BALD H. WELGH BY 5. g I

Aug. 17, 1965 A. H. WELCH 3, 00,7 9

ENVELOPE ATTAGHING MACHINE Filed April 8, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. 8 FIG 9 III III I W J I I ooooooloo/ooqpoloo/ooooooooooooo INVENTOR. ARC HIBALD H. WELCH ATTORNEYS United States Patent 31,200,719 ENVELGPE ATTACHHNQ MACHINE Archibald H. Wcich, Branford, Qonn, assignor to Quitverters, incorporated, West Hartford, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Filed Apr. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 272,185 9 Claims. (Cl. 93-61) This is a continuation-in-part of my earlier application entitled Envelope Attaching Machine, Serial No. 93,214 filed March 3, 1961, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to apparatus for securing envelopes in sequential and aligned order upon a web to form a combined web and envelope product for use in automatic envelope addressing and/or tabulating equipment.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide novel apparatus of the type described which will automatically and rapidly attach a series or sequence of envelopes along the length of a web in accurate spaced and aligned relationship relative to one another and to the web.

Another object of the invention is to provide such apparatus that is adapted for forming a combined web and envelope product of the type disclosed and claimed in the Whitman Patent No. 2,723,077 and wherein the envelopes are provided with side flaps or ears by means of which they are adhesively secured in sequential order to a web of indeterminate length.

A further object of the invention is'to provide a new and improved apparatus of the type described which is readily usable for securing standard or conventional envelopes not having accessory portions such as side flaps and whereby the subsequent removal of the envelopes from the web does not result in defacing or damaging the envelope.

Another object of the invention is to provide such apparatus for receiving stacked envelopes in a feed magazine, separating each envelope from the stack and individually and precisely spacing and aligning the envelopes and attaching them on a moving paper web.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of such apparatus which may be used for envelopes and webs of varying sizes and is quickly and easily adjusted for such use.

Included in the objects of the invention is the provision of such apparatus which will operate continuously and automatically at high speed and effectively over long periods of time without adjustment or parts replacement.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a machine for attaching envelopes to a paper web in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side view partially in section showing the feed end of the machine and including a supply roll of paper web and a stack of envelopes being fed to the machine;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to P16. 2 showing the delivery end of the machine and including a web trimmer and folder unit;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view showing the rotary suction envelope pick-up drum and valve arrangement used to feed the envelopes from the magazine in timed and sequential order to the positioning means of the machine;

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FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side view partly in section of the feed end of the machine;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side view partly in section of the intermediate portion of the machine;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side view partially in section of the delivery end of the machine;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary top view showing an envelope pusher on a portion of the endless chain drive used at the feed end of the machine;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the envelope pusher and chain shown in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary top view of a composite webenvelope product produced by the machine using side flaps for securing the envelope to the web, and. further showing, in dotted lines, lines of adhesive useful as an alternative for securing the envelope to the web.

The composite web-envelope product 1 (FIG. 10) produced by the machine of the present invention, comprises a paper web 2 regularly perforated at exact intervals along both side edges with a series of punched holes 3 and having secured thereto a line of envelopes 4 transversely disposed relative to the web 2 and disposed therealong in sequential and aligned order in close, longitudinal spaced relation. Each subsequent envelope 4 is preferably disposed so that it overlies the closure flap 5 of the preceding envelope 4. Each envelope 4 is registered with a predetermined number of punched holes 3 for correlating the feed of the envelopes with the operation of the automatic equipment with which the product is to be used. The composite web-envelope product is of the type disclosed in the Whitman Patent No. 2,723,077 granted November 8, 1955.

The envelopes 4 shown in FIG. 10 are provided on each side edge or end thereof with a laterally extending attachment tab or wing 6 formed as a continuation of the back or front wall of each envelope 4 and separable therefrom along a perforated line 7 indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 10. The envelopes 4 may then be secured to the web 2 by the tabs 6, the tabs 6 being sprayed with adhesive material for this purpose during the assembling of the product 1 in the machine. Alternatively, the envelopes 4 may be secured to the web 2 be spraying lines of adhesive material directly to the body of the envelope, as seen in dotted lines at 8 in FIG. 10, thereby eliminating the need for the side tabs 6.

Referring now to FIGS. 13 which best show the overall relation of the components of the machine for assembling the web-envelope product 1, the envelopes 4 are supplied to the machine in stacked relationship in a magazine or hopper indicated generally at It The web 2 is furnished from a supply roll 12. In the operation of the machine the envelopes 4 are separated in dividually and sequentially from the magazine It and are then moved forwardly along the machine (to the right as viewed in FIGS. 1-3) in a horizontal path during which they are accurately aligned and spaced and, if desired, the closure flaps 5 are turned rearwardly, following which the tabs or cars 6 or in the alternative portions of the body of the envelope are coated with adhesive. Thereafter the envelopes in aligned order are united with the web and sealed thereto, and finally the web is punched along each side edge and the composite product is folded in a zigzag fashion for convenience in storage and transportation.

The magazine 10 is designed to hold the envelopes 4 in stacked relationship and providing a bottom opening whereby the envelopes may be removed singly from the bottom of the magazine in a forward motion relative to the magazine. Preferably the magazine will hold the envelopes in an inclined stacked relationship whereby the component of force acting on the bottom envelope due to the weight of the stack is reduced. Inthe specific embodiment, the magazine all includes a center back plate 14 and two corner angle pieces 15. The center back plate 14- is removably attached to a transverse bar 16 and the corner angle iron pieces 15 are adjustably attached to the bar 16 so that they may be moved laterally to accommodate various sizes of envelopes. The bar 16 is adjustably secured to the frame members 17 which, in turn, are adjustably mounted on the main frame 18 of the machine. Also secured to the transverse bar 16 are bottom support members 19 which are of shorter length than the size of the envelopes so as to permit the bottom envelopes to be removed downwardly and forwardly of the magazine in sequence. The front of the magazine is formed by two rods 29 pivotally supported on a transverse bar 21 which, in turn, is supported on adjustable posts 22 at the sides of the frame. A center piece 23 supports a resilient retainer which engages the drum 24 and prevents all but the bottom envelope from being fed. The envelopes i are placed in the magazine It) in stacked relationship as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2 of the drawings and are oriented as shown in PK}. 10 of the drawings except that the closure flaps 5 are folded under in the usual manner in which the envelopes are provided by the supplier. The magazine is adjusted so that the leading edge portion of the lowermost envelope is disposed generally tangential to the feed drum 2d.

The feed drum 24 is fixed to a drive shaft 25 extending transversely of the machine and is provided with two relatively shallow circumferential grooves 26. Internally of the drum 2dare a pair of diametrically arranged suction chambers 27 and 2'7, each of which cominunicates with the periphery of the drum by means of a pair of ports 28 and 238. The chambers 27 and 27 are open at the lefthand face of the drum 24 as shown in MG. 4 and also as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 5. Abutting the lefthand face of the drum 2 5, as shown in FIG. 4, is a valve member 3%; the valve member 3% does not rotate with the shaft 25 but remains in stationary position by reason of the adjustable holding clamp 31 which embraces the transverse stationary rod 32 and thus holds the valve member Evil in adiusted rotary position. The valve member 3t) which is provided with a wear plate 33 has an arcuate groove 34 located as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 5 and a vacuum relief port 35. The arcuate groove 34 is placed under vacuum by connection with a suction line 36. The valve member is held in close contact with the drum 24 by means of a spring 37'extending between it and the retainer fixed to the shaft 25.

Mounted'immediately above the feed drum 24 are a pair of hold-down wheels as which are supported on a floating transverse shaft 41. The transverse shaft 41 is journaled at each end in a journal box 4?; supported for limited vertical movement on a pair of posts 43 and biased downwardly by springs 44. The hold-down wheels til are preferably rubber-surfaced and by reason of the mounting just described will bear downwardly against the feed drum 24 but can yield upwardly as an envelope passes therebetween.

Extending longitudinally and centrally of the machine in a horizontal direction is an elongated metal throat plate 45 having a smooth upper surface of low friction. As best shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings, the throat plate 45 is provided at the lefthand end with a pair of fingers 46 which ride in the circumferential grooves 26 of the feed drum 24-.

As will be apparent from an inspection of the arrangement of ports and grooves as shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings, as the feed drum 2 is rotated, the ends of the suction chambers 27 and 27' will register periodically and in sequence upon each half revolution of the drum with the arcuate groove 34, thus placing the pair of ports 28 or 28 associated therewith under vacuum as the same are rotated to a position beneath the magazine. This will immediately draw downwardly against the drum leading edge portion of the lowermost envelope in the magazine and cause the envelope to be pulled forwardly with the rotating periphery of the drum into the nip of the hold-down wheels 4d. As the envelope enters the nip, the fingers 46 of the throat plate 45 separate the envelope from the drum and at substantially the same time the suction chamber 27 or 27 involved will register with the relief port 35, thus releasing the envelope for travel along the top of the throat plate 45.

As the envelope is driven along the top of the throat plate 45 by the feed drum 24 in cooperation with the hold-down wheels as, it is next engaged between a drive roller 47 and a second pair of hold-down wheels 43. The holddown wheels 43 are mounted on a transverse shaft 49 in the same manner as hold-down wheels dill and thus the description of the mounting means will not be repeated. The drive roller 47 is appropriately grooved or reduced in diameter at its center portion to accommodate the throat plate 45.

fter the envelope emerges from between the drive roller 47 and the hold-down wheels 48, it continues to slide along the top of the throat plate until the forward end of the envelope enters between a pair of lower drive wheels 51? mounted on a drive shaft 53 land a pair of hold-down wheels 51, the latter being mounted on a shaft 52 journals-cl in the same manner as shafts 41 and 49. Also adjustably fixed to the shaft 53 adjacent the drive wheels Eli are a pair or" sprockets 54 which carry a pair of endless chains 55 extending longitudinally of the machine on opposite sides of the throat plate 45 and which are carried at the other end by drive sprockets 55 mounted on a shaft 57. As best shown in FIGS. 5, 8 and 9, the chains 55 are provided at intervals with links having a side ear or lug 58 on which is mounted a holder block 59 which, in turn, supports a finger member 6% which is pivotally mounted on the block 59 and biased to an upright position by the spring er. A shoulder 62 on the block 59 limits turning movement of the finger members 6t) to the upright position shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, but at the same time permits the finger members so to be pivoted rearwardly upon the application of a predetermined force. As a result of the mounting structure just described, the finger members 66 are offset from the center line of the chains 55, the chains 55 being supported intermediate the sprockets 5d and 56 by supporting plates as.

Accordingly, as the envelopes pass between the drive roll 59 and hold-down wheels 53, the finger members 6% will come into engagement with the trailing edge of the envelope and will serve thereafter to move the envelopes forwardly along the top of the throat plate 45. A plurality of light springs 63, or in the alternative brushes (not shown), depending from the longitudinally extending top bar 64 serve to hold the envelopes down upon the top surface of the throat plate. The longitudinal bar 64- is supported by the transverse rods e5. The finger members dtl are so spaced that as the sprockets are rotated in timed relationship to the feed drum 24 previously described, a pair of finger members of) on the chains 55 on opposite sides of the throat plate will be positioned to engage the end of each envelope as it passes between the drive wheels 5t and the holddown wheels 51.

The lateral edges of the envelopes pass beneath a pair of hold-down strips as mounted on the rods s5 and extending above the plane of the envelopes, and where necessary similar supporting strips can be provided below the plane of the envelopes. The holding force of the light spring 63 and the strips as is relatively light so that adjusting movement of the envelopes can take place. As will be apparent, as the finger members 6d of the chains 55 move the envelopes forwardly along the throat plate, the rear edges of the envelopes will firmly abut against the finger members at and thus be aligned properly at right angles to the path of movement. At the same time theenvelopes are accurately centered'by means of a pair of adjustable guide strips 67 disposed at opposite sides of the machine andboth inclined towardthe longitudinal center line of the machine as to exert a centering c-amming action upon any of the envelopes which are not properly centered. The guide strips 67 are supported at their endsby rods 67' and are secured to the traveling nuts 63 which are threadablyengaged with the elongated screw 69 having oppositely directed threads at opposite ends so that by turning the screw as the operator may adjust the guide strips-67 toward and away from the center of the machine.

As the finger members approach the sprockets 56 driving the envelope abutter thereon in aligned relationship on' the throat plate 45', the leading edge portion of the envelope is received between drive rollers 70 and hold-down wheels-71 the latter being mounted on a shaft 72 which is journaled in a manner similar to -that described in connection with shafts 41, 49 and 52. The timing of the drive elements is suchthat at this point the envelopes are brought intoedge-abutting relationship and as previously described are accurately centered and aligned relative to the direction of movement. The finger members 6;) which press-the envelopesfirmly forward until the envelopes are engaged by' rollers 70 and wheels 71 pivot rearwardly and downwardly against the bias of springs 61 and thus pass beneath and become disengaged from the rear edges of the envelopes. Laterally adjustable hold-down strips 73' supported by rods 74' are located to overlie the lateral edges of the envelopes during the remaining travel toward the web 2. The envelopes emerging from between the drive roll 70 and hold-down Wheels 71 next pass between another drive roll 75 and hold-down wheels '76 mounted on the floating shaft 77 journaled as described in connection with shaft 41. As the envelope approaches the drive roll 75 and hold-down wheels '76, the envelope passes over an air jet represented by the perforated tube 78' which emits a jet of air against the underside of the envelope which is effective as the trailing edge of the envelope ap proaches the jet to partially open the closure flap 5 of the envelope by blowing it downwardly away from the body of the envelope. Immediately thereafter, the closure flap 5 engage-s the two L-shaped cam strips 79 which are mounted at the front of a supporting plate 7% and which along with the tube '78; assist in completing the opening of the closure fiap'S to the extended position as shown in FIG. 10 of the drawings with the closure flap underlying the body of the nextsucceeding envelope. The air jet tube 78 can be suitably coveredor the air supply thereto can be terminated in the event it is not desired to open the closure flaps.

The envelopes emergingfrom between the drive roll 75 and hold-down wheels 76 with their closure flaps 5 in extended relationship, are next engaged between the drive rolls-S0 and hold-down wheels 81 mounted on the shaft 82. Located longitudinally intermediate the drive rolls 75 and are a pair of nozzles .83 which are adjustably mounted so that they may be located in alignment with the underside of the side tabs or cars 6 of the envelopes, or where the side tabs 6 are not used, located inwardly ofthe lateral edge-sot the envelope beneath the body thereof. The nozzles 83 are supplied with aliquid adhesive under pressure and as the envelopes pass over the nozzles 83 the tabs or cars 6 are given an adhesive coating, or in the alternative, lines of adhesive 8 are applied tothe underside of the body of the envelope. The adhesive is preferably one which will set rapidly when heat is applied, such as commercial polyvinyl acetate emulsion. Where the adhesive is applied to the body of the envelope, the adhesive can be thermoplastic to allow heat to be used as an agent for both securing and' releasing the envelope, or one whichprovides for readily releasing the envelope without the application of heat.

The envelopes in properly aligned relationship, coated with adhesive are now directed to the top of the web 2 as the web 2 passes around the roller 85 and the holddown wheels 86, the latter being mounted on a transverse shaft 87. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the web 2 is brought to the roller 85 fromthe supply roll 12 via the guide rolls 88, 89 and 9t and the speed regulating roll 91.

The web 2 and envelopes 4 placed thereon in proper relationship then travel over the horizontal supporting plate 92, passing beneath the hold-down wheels 93 mounted on the floating shaft 94. As the composite product travels along the plate 92, it next passes beneath the sealing assemblies or units 95 which are mounted on a trans verse screw 96 by means of which the lateral position of the units may be adjusted. Each unit 95 is provided with a hold-down wheel 97 mounted on a pivoted arm 98 which is engaged at its upper end by a spring 99 which is retained on the threaded rod 1%. The threaded rod 1% has a handle 101 at the outer end by means of which it can be turned inwardly and outwardly to adjust the compressive force of the spring 99. Each sealing assembly or unit 95 also includes an electric heating element or shoe 1:632 shown somewhat diagrammatically in the drawings, each shoe being piviotally mounted on a vertically adjustable support 104 as indicated at 103. The heating elements or shoes 1% are aligned so that they will bear against the top of the tabs or cars 6 where provided or against the body of the envelope above the lines of adhesive 8 where provided as the combination web and envelope product passes therebeneath, thus sealing the envelopes to the web.

The web 2 with the envelopes 4' thereon in aligned overlapping relationship as shown in FIG. 10 of the drawings, then passes between the roll 1195 and pressure wheels 106 for ensuring effective sealing of the envelopes to the web, to the perforator 1tl7 which includes a bottom roll 1% and a pair of perforating wheels 169 having projections or punches 110 about the periphery thereof which engages the marginal edges of the web and form the perforations or holes 3 therein. The perforating wheels 1639 are adjustably mounted on a transverse shaft 112 whereby they may be adjusted laterally to accommodate various widths of web. The composite product them travels over a supporting roll 113 (FIG. 3) which is associated with a pair of trimmers or cutting wheels 114 which are laterally adjustable on the shaft 115. The trimmers are used only in the event that the paper is too wide or in the event that the machine is set up to form a composite product having a double row of envelopes in which case the web would be slit along its center line.

The web and: attached envelopes then pass over the driven steel roll 116 and beneath the hold-down wheels 117 supported on the transverse shaft 118. The steel roll 116 is driven at a peripheral speed such that it will place the web under suitable tension. The product then passes to the folder unit 120 of conventional design which folds the web in a zigzag or accordion manner as best shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. The folder unit 120 is adjusted so. that the folds occur at regular intervals with one or more envelopes located between the folds.

For simplicity and brevity of description, the drive mechanism for the various drive rolls,. etc. has not been shown. The drive mechanism or gear train which is of conventional design may be conveniently mounted in the housing 114 extending longitudinally along" one side of the frame 18; The drive mechanism or gear train is preferably provided with replaceable gears whereby the relative speed of operation of the various parts of the machine may be adjusted to accommodate different sizes of envelopes.

In the operation of the machine, the envelopes 4 are accurately placed on the web 2 and are maintained in accurate alignment with respect to the web and the perforations 3 along the side edge thereof whereby the composite product may be used efficiently and conveniently in automatic addressing and/or tabulating machines. The machine may be operated at relatively high speeds whereby the output is maintained at a high rate and the machine functions efficiently and effectively over long periods of usage Without breakdown or requiring adjustment.

As will be apparent, the specific embodiment of the machine shown in the drawings and as described herein will be subject to variation and modification within the skill of the invention. For example, although the specific embodiment has been shown and described for simplicity as producing a single web and envelope product, it will be obvious that similar products could be provided or by duplication of parts more than one product may be formed simultaneously. All such variations and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A machine for forming a combined web and envelope product comprising, a magazine for receiving a stack of envelopes of the type having separable end tabs, feeding means for removing the envelopes individually and sequentially from the bottom of the magazine and advancing them in a linear path of movement with the envelopes disposed transversely of the path of movement and the end tabs extending outwardly from opposite sides, conveyor means for advancing the envelopes in succession along a path extending from the feeding means, said conveyor means including a pair of endless chains mounted in parallel relationship having spaced projections pivotally mounted on the chains and including means resiliently biasing the projections to upright positions, said projections engageable with the trailing edges of the envelopes in succession, positioning means on opposite sides of the conveyor means engageable with the end tabs of the envelopes while they are being advanced, means for supporting the envelopes intermediate the end tabs thereof, means for applying adhesive to the underside of the extending separable end tabs, and means for feeding a web of paper into contact with the succession of envelopes and adhering the web to the end tabs thereof.

2. In a machine for forming a combined web and envelope product, a magazine for receiving a stack of envelopes of the type having a folded closure flap and separable end tabs, feeding means for removing the envelopes individually and sequentially from the bottom of the magazine with the folded closure flap underneath, means for advancing the envelopes in successive edgeabutting relationship along a path extending from the feeding means, means for unfolding the closure flaps of the envelopes to dispose the closure flap of each envelope in position overlapping the underside of the succeeding envelope, means for applying adhesive to the underside of the separable end tabs, and means for feeding a web of paper into contact with the underside of the succession of envelopes and adhering the web to the end tabs thereof.

3. The machine set forth in claim 2 wherein the means for unfolding the closure flaps includes an air jet for partially unfolding the closure flaps, and cam means engageable by the partially unfolded closure flaps.

4. The machine set forth in claim 3 wherein the cam means are generally L-shaped members with the apexes thereof extending opposite to the path of movement of the envelopes.

5. A machine for forming a combined web and envelope product comprising, a rearwardly inclined magazine adapted for receiving a stack of envelopes, a drum mounted for rotation beneath the magazine having suction means for feeding the envelopes upwardly and forwardly and individually and sequentially from the bottom of the magazine, conveying means above the drum for advancing the envelopes forwardly from the drum along an elongated generally horizontal path extending substantialedges of the envelopes in succession for accurately longi' tudinally spacing the envelopes along the elongated path the conveying means additionally including a roller con-- veyor with a plurality of transversely extending lon-- gitudinally spaced rollers for individually advancing the envelopes forwardly from the endless conveyor at a second speed with the trailing and leading edges of adjacent envelopes in contiguous edge-to-edge relationship, means for transversely aligning the envelopes as they are advanced by the conveying means including a pair of inwardly inclined forwardly extending camming surfaces engageable with the transverse ends of the envelopes, means for applying lines of adhesive to the underside of the envelopes adjacent the transverse edges thereof, and means for feeding a supporting web forwardly of the adhesive applying means, said roller conveyor being adapted for advancing the envelopes forwardly onto the supporting web individually and in succession and in said contiguous edge-to-edge relationship.

6, The machine set forth in claim 5 wherein the magazine is adapted for receiving a stack of envelopes having folded closure flaps and with the closure flaps on the underside of the envelopes and adjacent the trailing edges thereof and further comprising unfolding means longitudinally intermediate the longitudinally spaced rollers of the roller conveyor and adjacent to but below the path of travel of the envelopes for unfolding the closure flaps of the envelopes for extension rearwarclly of the trailing edges thereof and means forwardly of the unfolding means for supporting the envelopes intermediate the transverse ends thereof to maintain the closure flaps unfolded.

'7. A machine for forming a combined web and envelope product comprising, a rearwardly inclined magazine adapted for receiving a stack of envelopes, a drum mounted for rotation beneath the magazine having suction means for removing the envelopes individually and sequentially from the bottom of the magazine and feeding them forwardly in an upwardly inclined direction, conveying means for advancing the envelopes forwardly from the drum including an endless conveyor advancing the envelopes forwardly in succession having means engageable with the trailing edges of the envelopes in succession for accurately spacing the envelopes, means for aligning the envelopes as they are advanced by the conveying means including a pair of inwardly inclined forwardly extending camming surfaces engageable with the transverse ends of the envelopes, means for applying a line of adhesive to the underside of the envelopes, means for feeding a supporting web forwardly of the adhesive applying means, and means for feeding the envelopes individually and in succession onto the supporting web, said means engageable with the trailing edges of the envelopes comprising a plurality of pairs of transversely spaced projections pivotally mounted and resiliently biased forwardly into a position engageable with the trailing edges of the envelopes and movable rearwardly against the bias out of engagement with the envelopes.

8. In a machine for forming a composite envelope and carrier web product comprising conveyor means for advancing envelopes forwardly in succession along an elongated path with the envelopes positioned transversely of their'path of travel, continuous adhesive apply means for applying lines of adhesive to the envelopes adjacent the transverse edges thereof as they are conveyed along their path of travel, means for feeding a carrier web forwardly into association with the envelopes after the adhesive has been applied thereto for adhering the envelopes to the carrier web, and sealing means for firmly adhering the envelopes to the carrier web, said conveyor means including first and second envelope conveying means, said first envelope conveying means including an endless conveyor adapted to convey the envelopes forwardly along the elongated path at a first speed and with the trailing edges of adjacent envelopes spaced a constant distance apart, and said second envelope conveying means including a plurality of rollers for individually advancing the envelopes forwardly from the endless conveyor into association with the carrier web at a second speed and with the trailing and leading edges of adjacent envelopes in substantial edge abutting relationship, said continuous adhesive applying means applying adhesive to the underside of the envelopes as they are advanced by the second envelope conveying means in said substantial edge abutting relationship.

9. In a machine for forming a composite envelope and carrier web product comprising conveyor means for advancing envelopes forwardly in succession along an elongated path with the envelopes positioned transversely of their path of travel and including first and second envelope conveying means, said first envelope conveying means including endless conveyor means Wit-h uniformly spaced retractable projection means engageable with the trailing edges of the envelopes and thereby adapted to convey the envelopes forwardly along the elongated path at a first speed, and with the trailing edges of adjacent envelopes a uniform distance apart, and with the envelopes in longitudinally spaced discontinuous sequence, said second envelope conveying means comprising a plurality of pairs of rollers for advancing the envelopes forwardly from said first envelope conveying means at a second speed and with the envelopes in substantial longitudinal continuous sequence, continuous adhesive applying means for applying lines of adhesive to the envelopes as they are advanced by the second envelope conveying means and with the envelopes in said continuous sequence, and means for feeding a carrier web into association with the envelopes forwardly of the adhesive applying means for adhering the envelopes to the carrier web, and sealing means including pressure applying means for firmly adhering the envelopes to the carrier web.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,867,220 7/32 Hartmann 93-54 X 2,363,417 11/44 Heywood 9361 2,626,074' 1/53 Vogt 156--571 X 3,077,821 2/63 Sauerman 9362 FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner. BERNARD STICKNEY, Examiner. 

1. A MACHINE FOR FORMING A COMBINED WEB AND ENVELOPE PRODUCT COMPRISING, A MAGAZINE FOR RECEIVING A STACK OF ENVELOPES OF THE TYPE HAVING SEPARABLE END TABS, FEEDING MEANS FOR REMOVING THE ENVELOPES INDIVUDALLY AND SEQUENTIALLY FROM THE BOTTOM THE MAGAZINE AND ADVANCING THEM IN A LINEAR PATH OF MOVEMENT WITH THE ENVELOPES DISPOSED TRANSVERSELY OF THE PATH OF MOVEMENT AND THE END TABS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM OPPOSITE SIDES, CONVEYOR MEANS FOR ADVANCING THE ENVELOPES IN SUCCESSION ALONG A PATH EXTENDING FROM THE FEEDING MEANS, SAID CONVEYOR MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF ENDLESS CHAINS MOUNTED IN PARALLE RELATIOSHIP HAVING SPACED PROJECTION PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE CHAINS AND INCLUDING MEANS RESILIENTLY BIASING THE PROJECTIONS TO UPRIGHT POSITIONS, SAID PROJECTIONS ENGAGEABLE WITH THE TRAILING EDGES OF THE ENVELOPES IN SUCCESSION, POSITIONING MEANS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE CONVEYOR MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH THE END TABS OF THE ENVELOPES WHILE THEY ARE BEING ADVANCED, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE ENVELOPES INTERMEDCIATE THE END TABS THEREOF, MEANS FOR APPLYING ADHESIVE TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE EXTENDING SEPARABLE END TABS, AND MESNS FOR FEEDING A WEB OF PAPER INTO CONTACT WITH THE SUCCESSION OF ENVELOPES AND ADHERING THE WEB TO THE END TABS THEREOF. 